Enjoying a Dust Devils game, for the uninitiated
I was traveling, so I missed the Dust Devils setting their all time attendance record this evening:
If you’re looking to take in your first Dust Devils game this summer, here’s a number of things to keep in mind to help you enjoy the game even more. This list was written especially for folks who are not that familiar with baseball.
Get the MiLB First Pitch app.
This is a great way to figure out what the hell is going on, who the players are, and see their past stats. You can also watch which pitches were *truly* balls and strikes. If I was writing this in the early 20th Century I would say, “It’s a great way to know who’s really on first” and you would smile because that’s a reference to a comedy bit from the 1930s by Abbott and Costello (“Who’s on First?”) but instead I will just say without any joke made at all that the app is a great way to know who’s really on first.
Keep score.
If you’re up for a challenge, try to keep score in a game. It’s a little like managing your inventory and keeping notes in a Dungeons & Dragons game except harder and dramatically more nerdy. Keeping score will help you stay connected to the action and get a sense for the developing storyline of the game, and how different players are performing in the game.
Bring kids.
Aside from the fact that they start at 7:15, Dust Devils games are well suited for kids. There are a bunch of in-game competitions and activities led by the always entertaining and energetic Erik “the Peanut Guy” Mertens. (As an aside to my fellow theatre geeks, Erik is in fact the brother of Ellicia Elliott, the Rude Mechanicals Shakespeare Company’s Creative Director.)
Watch the catcher’s mitt.
You’ll see where the pitcher was intending to aim based on where the catcher puts his glove before the pitch is on the way. When you see the catcher move his arm a lot to catch the ball, you know the pitcher missed his spot.
Play the manager.
Would you keep this pitcher in or bring in a reliever? Should they bunt a player over to get a better chance of scoring? Should that runner have taken second? Should the ump get an earful for that bad call? WE REPORT, YOU DECIDE. (Actually, you are also going to have to report. Sorry about that.)
Run across the field.
The Dust Devils do a really fun thing every game where kids get to run across the field. Kids love it and adults can join them, too.
Root for the beer batter to strike out.
If the opposing team’s designated “beer batter” strikes out, beer goes on sale for just $2.50.
Clap (or do not clap and consider yourself fully individuated).
You are going to repeatedly be instructed to applaud by a clip from “The Cha Cha Slide” that says: “Everybody clap your hands.”
It is truly up to you, however, whether or not to clap your hands.
Sing.
Baseball is a singing sport. I mean, sometimes. Sure there’s the national anthem, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, and “YMCA”, but my personal favorite is the weird tradition of playing Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline and adding in crowd shouts of “BUMM-BUMM-BUMMMM!” and ”So good! So good! So good!” during the chorus. This tradition comes courtesy of the Boston Red Sox:
Figure out the lyrics to this one weird rap about the Dust Devils giving away money.
For as long as I’ve been to games, there’s been a cash give away every game sponsored by Cline Computers. The best thing about this giveaway is there is some rap song recorded specifically for this segment they play that says something about “diamonds like boulders.” I am still working on collecting a complete understanding of the lyrics and why they have been playing this exact thing for well over ten years. (Someone from the Dust Devils: please get me this audio clip!)
